The meals tax is back on the ballot for some Valley voters this fall. Voters in Rockingham County rejected the tax last year, but county leaders are urging them to support it this time.

If passed, the move would allow for a four-percent meal and beverage tax. The tax would not apply to the towns.

Rosario Alfieri owns Romano's Italian Bistro in McGaheysville. He says business is slow and sales are off 15 to 20 percent compared to this time last year.

"People are spending less to eat out. I think before there was a splurging," says Alfieri. "People are already struggling to meet their needs, and increasing the tax on the meal is going to be even harder on them."

The money generated from the tax, which the county estimates would be about $600,000 in the first year, would go to schools.

County Supervisor Bill Kyger works as a teacher at Turner Ashby High School.

"We have thousands of visitors every week into this county, 52 weeks out of the year at Massanutten. And, it's a great way to have them return the favor and help pay for our childrens' education," says Kyger.

County voters disagreed last year, with 47 percent voting for the meals tax and 53 percent voting against it.

"Rockingham County is about the only area around here that doesn't have a meals tax. And, I don't see restaurants in Harrisonburg hurting because they have a meals tax," says Kyger.

However, Alfieri believes his business would hurt.

"In the end, the more you give, the more they're going to want to spend it. So, I don't know how it's going to stop," says Alfieri.

County leaders are preparing what they call a "myths and facts" sheet about the tax. They're going to hand it out at PTA and civic club meetings.